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Monday 10am - 12pm Tuesday 10am - 12pm Wednesday 2:30pm - 4:30pm Thursday 10am - 12pm Friday 10am - 12pm Saturday 10am - 12pm 2:30pm - 4pm

Henfield Museum

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Henfield Museum

The page for Henfield Museum and for all those interested in the history of the village of Henfield and surrounding parishes.

For more information:

Museum website: https://www.henfieldmuseum.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/henfieldmuseum
Instagram: https://instagram.com/henfieldmuseum
Parish Council webpage: https://www.henfield.gov.uk/what-we-do/museum-committee

31/07/2026

SMG Members' Group Henfield Museum is lucky enough to have this Home Guard tunic. What we dont have is a freezer to eradicate any pests. Is there a museum out there with any freezer capacity? We would love to hear from you

26/07/2026

Good evening from Henfield museum. With the weather having been so warm, there really is only one fashion accessory that is essential at the moment. A fan. Used not just to keep oneself cool, it had a language all of its own for communicating with ones beau at a ball. eg ‘Resting on right cheek…Yes ! Resting on left cheek …No! Fans came in all shapes and sizes and were made from paper, silk, feathers and card. The guards at each end were often carved and decorated. One mother of pearl example in the photos shows a repair…these fans were too precious and expensive to simply discard. Here is a selection of some of the Henfield collection. As you can see illustrations of birds and flowers were very popular.
Next costume post 30th August 2026

24/07/2026

This temporary display on the Horsham to Shoreham branch line will be in place until the end of September. There are lots of photos to see of Henfield, and other stations on the line.

20/07/2026

Two young visitors from London and Fleet Hampshire give the museum air raid siren a spin... Some of the dolls look on quite unconcernedly behind - they've heard it all before!

Labelled 'Carter Nelson England' and 'Home Office Property No. 281', this wartime air raid warning siren was used at the shop in Blackstone, near Henfield. Post-war, fire brigades would sometimes use these too.

Carter and Co. were based at Nelson, Lancashire. At the British Industries Fair of 1937, they were listed as selling street Fire Alarms for buildings, air raid warning signals, control switchgear, portable electric generating sets, searchlights, floodlights, hand lamps and transformers. Merged with Thomas Ashworth and Co. Ltd of Burnley in 1966, the company went out of business by the 1990s.

See comments for a video of the siren sounding.

18/07/2026

1863. One we've posted a few years ago, but worth an expanded repost for the Henfield Cricket Club Cricket Club's President's Day tomorrow, also marking the 100th anniversary of the pavilion. Open to the public from 11:30AM into the early evening, we'll have a gazebo/display there along with other community groups, so drop by!

~

The photo was taken during a match with Steyning with the tented pavilion behind. It has been restored and colourised (both by algorithm and manually). See the source sepia print in the comments.

The playing of the game in the village goes back at least 50 years prior to the club's foundation date of 1771 and at its mid-19th century peak, multiple members played for Sussex, with Henry Charlwood playing for England on the very first tour at Melbourne in Australia. Until the 1920s, the pavilion was a tent as seen here, put up for matches on the Common or the George field (with the buildings at the latter now home to Stokes, the antiques shop and convenience shop developed in 1905).

The current pavilion was built in 1926, with materials provided free of charge by local builder Mr. Alfred Baigent (based in the white 1870s workshop building at Golden Square) who also built Henfield's first council houses at Hollands Road. After 1000 hours' voluntary work, the pavilion was formally opened by former Sussex and England captain Arthur Gilligan on a rainy July 19th. As the plans grew more elaborate, various charity drives also meant that Mr. Baigent received back £250 of the total £282 final cost.

***Cast of characters***

Some, but not all of those pictured are labelled on the club's print of this photo. At the top, third from left with pipe and watch chain showing is 'Stoner', likely Charles, the landlord of the George Inn, who alongside his wife Louisa was famed in the village for hosting and catering for parties and events. He most probably catered for this match. Far right top is G. Heaver, perhaps the same as he who served in the Rifle Volunteers (a duty several others pictured here also took up).

Standing far left in frock coat and with mutton chops is John Fairs Martin, the landlord of the White Hart. Next to him is J. West. Market gardener Richard 'Dick Fillery Senior is fourth along this row with peaked cap. William Pattenden, son of Edward 'Ned' Pattenden who drove stagecoaches on the London - Brighton road stands on the far right, with farmer Tom Piper to his right. Henry Longley of the well known Henfield High Street tailors stands below him.
Farmer and High Street butcher John Thorns sits third from left wearing a boater. Richard 'Dick' Fillery (Junior) who bowled and batted for Sussex and like his father was a gardener is to his left enjoying a cigar. Second from left on the ground (in dark suit) is 16 year old Walter Pattenden, William's younger brother. Farmer and carter John Muzzall is to his left, with Tom Thorns lying second from right (both Thorns being ancestors of former club president Conway Thorns).

Behind, some folks appear to be already seated and enjoying white tablecloths and libations. And needless to say, the supporting cast of children, pipes and ci**rs does a fine job too! Tales of some of those pictured can be found in Eddie Colgate's book, 'Henfield's 19th Century Egg Basket', available in the museum and on our website.

24/06/2026

'If I know’d a donkey wot wouldn’t go
To see Mrs JARLEY’S wax-work show,
Do you think I’d acknowledge him? Oh no no!
Then run to Jarley’s—'

Behold 'Miss Jarley's Waxworks' at Henfield Place around 1920, put on by the still newly formed Henfield Women's Institute. Their signs advertise what would presumably have been a tableau vivant type display later that day at the Parish Room on the High Street. Some of these characters are more recognisable than others - how many can you identify?

From her arrival in 1916, Miss Margaret Knowles at Henfield Place hosted many such village social events in the gardens there. Some of those pictured here include A. Scott, D. Walters, A. Woolgar, Mrs. Clarkson and A. Greenfield.

The character of Miss Jarley is from Charles Dickens' Old Curiosity Shop, published in 1841. As you may guess, she would display her waxworks in the same vein as the famed Madame Tussaud. While a fairly minor character, she inspired many such local productions in the 19th and earlier 20th century.

21/06/2026

Good evening from Henfield Museum. Tonight’s star is a pretty metal chain-link chatelaine purse. c1900. A chatelaine was a way to have useful things to hand, as pockets were a rarity in women’s dresses at this time (still not always present). A clip on your belt had chains attached, and on those chains you could find a large variety of useful items. Like scissors, keys, a watch or a purse like this one. You can see the ring in the middle of the handle where it would have been attached.
Next costume post 26th July 2026

16/06/2026

We hope you had a good Sussex Day - aka the saint's day of St. Richard of Chichester. This originally marked the 'translation' - or ceremonial removal - of the former Bishop's body from his original burial place in the nave to his dedicated chapel in 1276, 23 years after his death. All and sundry were in attendance, including King Edward I 'Longshanks'.

To virtually toast the county's health, here's one of our more unusual recent donations, 'translated' here from 1987. Perhaps you're tippling something similar now, having attended this year's version of the long-running Garden & Arts Festival over the weekend?

Taste testers apply within...

10/06/2026

A woof and some oinks! These endearing photos are from a resident's recently donated 1930s family photo album.

Although they were taken in Cornwall, not Sussex, they deserve a showing and capture a nice slice of rural life!

31/05/2026

Good evening from Henfield Museum. Tonight, I bring you a collection of 3 garments from a Henfield family of some repute. A family that was very influential in the early years of the Boy Scout movement. More on https://henfieldscouts.co.uk/history-of-1st-henfield/ The clothes (gingham jacket and trousers and velvet breeches) were worn by the child who would grow up to be Major A G Wade MC (1881 – 1967). They are a mixture of hand and machine stitch and skilfully made. The breeches are lined in cotton. There are some smart buttons on the cuffs of both trousers and a matching style of button is used to fasten the jacket.
Next costume post 21st June 2026

Address

The Henfield Hall, Coopers Way
Henfield
BN59EQ

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 12pm
Tuesday	10am - 12pm
Wednesday	2:30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday	10am - 12pm
Friday	10am - 12pm
Saturday	10am - 12pm
	2:30pm - 4pm

Website

https://henfieldmuseum.org/

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